February 9, 2026
Ms. Tokuda (for herself, Mr. Case, Mr. Moylan, Ms. King-Hinds, and Mr. Hernández) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
To amend the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 to allow certain States to directly purchase commodities, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Direct purchase of commodities
Section 202 of the Emergency Food Assistance Act of 1983 (7 U.S.C. 7502) is amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
(b) Direct purchase of commodities
(1) Definitions
In this subsection:
(A) Eligible State
The term
eligible Statehas the meaning given the term in section 4206(b) of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (7 U.S.C. 7518(b)).(B) Entitlement funds
The term entitlement funds, with respect to an eligible State, means the dollar amount used by the Secretary to purchase commodities pursuant to section 27 of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2036) to distribute to the eligible State in accordance with section 214.
(2) Direct purchase
The Secretary shall allow an eligible State to elect to receive all of the entitlement funds of the eligible State as cash to make direct purchases of commodities through the private commercial marketplace.